Hotline available for visitor questions

The group organizing everything for the upcoming eclipse in August held their monthly meeting last week, going over a few details.

The IT Department for the county has created a hotline number that will be available during the period just before, during and just after the eclipse.

The hotline will allow people to call with non-emergent questions such as where to get a tire repaired or what time a particular event begins. Of course, emergencies will be forwarded to 9-1-1, but having the hotline will free up dispatch to answer emergency calls rather than questions about where things may be going on.

A list of possible questions visitors may ask is being put together so the volunteers answering the hotline will be able to have the right answers at their fingertips.

Those directly involved in the hotline will be having an additional meeting the first week of August to come up with what type of message would be appropriate for after hours on the line.

Dr. Robert Krisko has put together a “Star Party” for the Sunday evening before the eclipse, which will be held at the old airport.

He has two professional astronomers who will be coming to guide folks how to find a variety of celestial objects, including visible planets, nebulae and galaxies as well as pointing out the various constellations.

There will be telescopes there for folks to take a peek through, but if you happen to have your own, feel free to bring it along.

In order to know how many people will be coming, there will soon be a sign-up sheet at the front counter of the Dinosaur Center.

Chamber of Commerce Director Meri Ann Rush reported there is one vacation rental still available and one hotel has just two rooms left, otherwise, we are booked full with visitors coming for the event.

Rush said she is still getting offers of fields available for dry camping. Those offering the fields will need to have a drawing of where people will be camped to help emergency responders should the need arise.

She is also getting a number of phone calls daily from people who will be staying in Cody, but plan to come to Thermopolis for the eclipse and any other events that will be going on.

John Elliot with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said a Stage 1 fire ban is now in effect in Hot Springs, Washakie and Big Horn Counties.

A Stage 1 ban means no open campfires except in BLM fire pits within designated camping areas, no smoking except within buildings or vehicles, no use of chainsaws without a USDA or SAE spark arrestor and no welding unless within a 10-foot diameter, cleared area. A fire extinguisher must be within reach with chainsaws or welding.

In addition, no fireworks or incendiary ammunition, no burning of tires, wire or magnesium containing materials or other explosive materials are to be used. Off road vehicles must be equipped with a spark arrestor.

John Fish, a Thermopolis Volunteer Fireman, said the department had been considering a fire ban, but were waiting to follow what the BLM decided to do, so a fire ban may be in effect by the time the eclipse arrives.